The full moon in March will peak this week, rising in the sky shortly after sunset on Tuesday.
Historically called the Worm Moon, the full moon in March generally corresponds with creatures appearing with the warming spring weather.
How To Witness This Month’s Full Moon?
The March full moon occurs on March 7 around 12.40pm GMT, when the Moon is not visible in the sky. Sky gazers will need to wait until just before 6pm to observe the moonrise, which takes place just as the Sun is setting.
According to the Old Farmers Almanac, there are multiple named full moons that occur at roughly the same time each year and are called after distinct seasonal markers. Native American, Colonial American, and European names are commonly used, primarily as nicknames for the moon cycles that occur around once a month.
The Worm Moon is the March moon, and it gets its name from the fact that earthworms start to emerge around this time of year, bringing birds back out to feed. It marks the end of winter and the beginning of natural regrowth.
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Explorer’s Theory
Another theory for the name comes from explorer Captain Jonathan Carver and his meetings with the Naudowessie (Dakota) tribe in the 1760s, according to the Old Farmers Almanac. Carver explained that the “worms” were beetle larvae that emerged in the spring from thawing tree bark, creating a similar bird-summoning effect as earthworms.
The almanac also urged stargazers who may be experiencing some rain to keep an eye out for a rare event known as a “moonbow.”
Moonbows are similar to rainbows in that moonlight is reflected rather than sunlight, resulting in a spectacular solar phenomenon. Moonbows, on the other hand, only appear when the moon is on the horizon, so be prepared!
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